35 CALIBER BULLET CHOICES

On this page is a listing of some of the bullets I load into my various 35 calibre firesticks. I hope to add additional details on them later.

Perhaps you will observe a few exceptions - notably the premium bullets which cost a bit! The 225 Trophy Bonded Bear Claw (now available from Speer and factory loaded to 2600 fps into Federal Premium Centerfire 35 Whelen ammo), Barnes "X" and "TSX", and Swift A-frame all look like they would be great performers!!! For now however, I'm using Speer, Sierra and Hornady at half the cost. I have recently acquired some of the premium Nosler 225 grain partitions to try and have found them excellent in my 35 Whelen AI and 350 Rem Mag (see my loading notes page). I also now have some 310gr Woodleighs to try.

35 Cal 225gr Spitzer Nosler AccuBond® Part #50712

NEW FOR 2007!(50 count)

Ballistics

B.C. .423S.D. .251OAL. 1.375"

Like the the discontinued Ballistic Tip but with a tougher bonded core it would seem. Should be worth a try!

Triple-Shock™ X-Bullet

358 Caliber

Diameter

Weight

Description

S.D.

B.C.

CAT#

.358"

200 gr

TSX FB

.223

.284

35820

.358"

225 gr

TSX FB

.251

.359

35824

Good reports on accuracy, velocity and terminal effect on big game coming to me on these TSX bullets. I have not tried them yet myself.
250 grain Hornady Spire Point #3520

I have found this bullet quite accurate and fast out of the muzzle too. However I find that it does require usually about 2 grains more powder than its pointy brother immediately above to acheive the same velocity. I shot a bear from a ground blind with this one at around 30 yards I think. When it lifted its head up out of the 20 litre bait pail for a look around, I fired. That bear was entirely dead so fast that it dropped instantly. I then cautiously approached and noticed it was lying stone dead with its nose still at the edge of the pail.
200 grain Hornady Spire Point #3510

According to a Hornady rep, this bullet is quite a tough one as it shares the exact same core (3% antimony) and jacket as the 250 grain SP. It can be driven at the 3000 fps level with hunting confidence - especially for heavy game.
250 grain Speer Spire Point #2453 - (Ballist.
Coef.- 0.446)

Very similar dimensions to the Hornady 250 spirepoint. It's a classic 35 cal bullet and quite economical too. It can be used in all the 35s. It has quite a bit of exposed lead so the tip can be cut of back to the jacket for safe use in the tubular mag in the 356. You'll find that the resultant flat is the same diameter as 220 Speer flatnose. Modified in this way leaves about 247 grains. Reports suggest to me that this bullet is a good performer on all big game.
220 Speer Flatnose #2439 (Ballist.
Coef.- 0.316)

This is a great bullet for the 356. Leaving the muzzle between 2200 and 2400fps seems about perfect for black bear hunting in the eastern woods. It hits with authority and can even literally knock over a smaller bruin as if hit with an invisible drop kick. I wouldn't rely on its sterling terminal performance if driven much faster (as one can do with the 350 and the Whelens). For deer, bloodshot meat would be the result I imagine. And on moose and bear probably classic bullet failure would result.

Check out these entrance and exit wound pics made by this bullet in a deer shot through by a shooting buddie of mine this fall (Nov.05). He was using his 35 Rem loaded with this bullet at just 1950fps - awesome tissue damage resulted but only around the immediate wound channel so not much meat was lost he tells me. His purpose in using this caliber/bullet combo was to try and anchor the deer so as not to allow it to run far on to nearby lands with no permission to hunt (Manitoulin Island,ON). The terminal performance was as expected and proved to be quite satisfactory for the purpose he feels.

This is a tough bullet - in fact maybe too tough for thin skinned game. Some deer hunters have been reporting on forums that they get zero expansion with this one - especially on smaller deer on broadside lung shots. I have read more than one to say this. On quartering shots the bullet seems to just begin to expand as its exiting. Probably great for BIG deer and on up in size. It's a loooooong one and may not be as good in the short action cartridges unless the polycarbonate tip is cut off. It is aerodynamic and probably accurate in alot of guns.
225 grain Nosler Partition #44800 (Ballist.
Coef. = .430 Sectional density = .251) and 250 grainer of course too (haven't tried that weight yet)

This 225 is a tough bullet and works excellent in my Whelens and my 350s.
225 Sierra Game King #2850 (Ballist.
Coef.- .370 @ 2500 fps and above,
.384 between 2500 and 2000 fps,
.387 between 2000 and 1600 fps,
.370 @ 1600 fps and below)

This bullet is short so it works to save on case capacity in the short action guns especially. It's quite streamlined too. A 050" jacket at the base make this a tough game bullet. I have been getting conflicting reports as to its terminal performance on big game. One source suggests it hangs together through a very large bear (story source comes via Sierra rep). Another source - a gunsmith here in Ontario - says he's shot a truckload of deer, elk and moose with it and it NEVER hangs together. It "vaporizes" in the animal - his word for breaks up and rarely does he get an exit. He hunts with this bullet leaving his Whelen at 2700 fps he tells me. However, that being said, it always seems to kill efficiently in his experience - so he likes it alot. Maybe he's getting the same effect that 270 fans sometimes report shooting moose with light 130 grains that break up on impact - kills like lightning they say ("that time" I would add). Perhaps the bigger and heavier 225 grain has this fatal terminal effect more regularly - even though a bullet failure has occurred in the classic sense. More to consider.

Norma 250 grain FN hollow point.

I just [March 2005] picked up the last of these old stock items at a gun shop. I don't know much about them yet except that another 35 Whelen fan said they shot very accurately in his Remington pump gun. They are nickel colour (?). They are quite short (1.093") with alot of lead exposed at the tip in the form of a wide meplat with - yes - a hollowpoint (???). They have a canulure in the right spot (.720" back from the tip) for the Whelens, some longer box 350 RemMags and the 358s - but not the 356. I don't know whether this bullet is designed to be effective on big game at Norma Magnum speeds (2600 - 2850 MV) or at 356 speeds (2150 MV). Also one of my mausers does not want to feed round nose bullets - so maybe it'll have trouble with these ones too. Let U know when I fire off some. I bought the last 100 but missed out on the original quantity available on a close out sale of around 900 (others have to have some 35 cal. shooting fun too I guess). [NOTE - I managed to pick up another 100 but these ones differ slightly having a perfectly flat nose without any hollowpoint.]

300 grain Barnes Original Roundnose #35850

(.049 THICK jackets -Ballist. Coef.- .371) These are no longer made but I have 35 left! These were gratefully received from a good friend to try (I'll use them on a Rhino or a Cape Buff if I see one in my backyard). Paco Kelly says that the combo of this bullet with his 35 Whelen Improved, and loaded up to potential, makes it the practical equivalent to the 375 H&H for dangerous African game (and much more flexible loading it for the smaller game). Haven't fired off any as yet. Interestingly they measure between 1.350" to1.355" which is the same length essentially as the 310 WoodleighRNs I have (see below).

Lyman 358009 Cast

I now have in hand a small supply of 285 grain Lyman mould cast bullets (gas checked) to try. I can get them cast for me locally. Paco Kelly has hunted alot with this bullet and really likes it. He even reports killing a Hippo with it without much difficulty. See my first load tests with this bullet in my 35 Whelen AI on my loading notes page.
- also misc. 158 gr. pistol bullets

The Best Bullets I NEVER Tried!

Barnes X-bullets available in 35 caliber

These X-Bullets [now discontinued - replaced by TSX series] I have yet to try myself except for firing off a few 200 grainers. They were given me by a friend and of course not enough to evaluate in any meaningful way.

35 cal. Grand Slam SP

The 250 Speer GRAND SLAM looks like it would be awesome - especially so in the short action 35s since it is a shorter bullet (more powder room) and well constructed. I have a friend shooting the new Remington Guide 673 rifle in 350 and says this bullet shoots consistently accurately with a variety of loads. I hope to be trying them soon.

Part
Number

Caliber

Wt.
Gr.

Wt.
Gm.

Box
Count

Bullet
Coefficient

2455

35 cal.

250

16.20

50

.335

Sectional Density

Diameter in.

Diameter mm

Construction

.279

0.358

9.09

Hot-Cor

Remington .358 200 PSP-Core Lokts (SD=.223 Bal. Coef.=.282)

- I have just received in the mail 100 of these pointy 200 grainers (200 PSPCL - see pic to the right). These spire points are a tough big game bullet and should be capable of being used on big bear at magnum levels up to 3000 fps MV. I think they might be better than the Hornady 200 spire points (which are tough too - see note above) at holding together through a big beast. I can't say for sure. Recently I think Jon Sundra wrote about killing a big black bear successfully with this one in a gun rag (I forget the ballistic and animal details though). The pointed version has a very tiny tip with little lead exposed which helps penetration at magnum velocities. Also as bullets go they are quite economical right now (21.99 CAN/100 plus shipping, 13.79 US at MidwayUSA).
They come in a RN version also (200 SPCL) which are available presently (see pic on left of recovered ones fired from a Marlin 336 lever gun). In the past there were 250 grain incarnations for reloaders but I haven't found these ones to be available now. There is lots of load data out there for these old standards.

Sierra 200 Grain Round Nose Pro-Hunter #2800 - good for the 356 and 35 Remington. Quite easy on the pocket book. Probably best to keep under 2400 MV - I'm guessing(???). Hodgdons load data cranks em up to 2800 MV out of the 35 Whelen. So maybe they know they'll work on game at that speed (???) - or not. I hope to get some to try soon in my 356.

Heavy For Calibre .358 Bullets

Woodleigh 310s - this Aussie company showing 35 cal bullets in 250 and 310 grain weight Roundnose Soft Nose. Get them at MidwayUSA or order them in Canada at Corlane Sporting Goods in Dawson Creek, BC @ $52/box (spring 2008).

Here is a pic of the 310 grain version of the .358 Woodleigh Softnose. I've got a 100 coming now from Corlanes arriving soon (got them now - see next pic). They may be too long for my short actions but should be fine in my 35 Whelens. We'll see. Update - they measure 1.355" long (same essential length as the 300gr. Barnes originals I have - see above). Load testing coming this spring (2008) I'm hoping.

Here's a 35 Whelen case in which I seated a Woodleigh 310gr to the canelure at about 3.280" COAL. Looks very good. Especially since a number of guns permit even longer seating - out to 3.400" in some rifles if the throating will allow it.

A Square 275s in available in monolithic solid, dead tough RN soft point, or softer Lion load at MidwayUSA

Swift A-Frame semi-spitzer 280s - available in 225, 250 and 280 grains at Russels in Canada and Midsouth Shooters supply in the USA. These are essentially a bonded core partition type bullet. VERY good big game bullets but a bit spendy.

RESIZING HEAVYWEIGHT .366" BULLETS TO .358"

9.3mm (.366") bullets - resized to .358" dia. 286 or 270 gr. bullet (or even 320gr.) Layne Simpson reports successfully resizing of Norma 286 grain bullets pulled from factory 9.3 x 62mm ammo. He first coated bullet with RCBS case lube, and used his bench vise to push it through a Lee .358" cast bullet sizing die and then once again - necessary because of jacket/core spring back - through a smaller Lee .357" sizing die. The final size he says was exactly .358". They had a slight bit of lead extruded from the tip but they shot just as accurately as others he tried. He shot a moose with that bullet fired from a 358 Norma magnum at 2609 MV (Shooting Times - May 1988).

The Speer .366" 270 grain semi-spitzer would probably size a little easier in theory. Someday I may try this. Hornady used to make a 270RN bullet in 35 cal and some old data manuals feature recipes for it that could be used as a benchmark or baseline for load development for the resized .366 to .358 Speer 270 grain I think.

Also Woodleigh's .366" bullets in 286 and 320 grains might serve well to resize.

- Resizing/swaging Norma 9.3/.365" bullets to .358" was a piece of cake! They were pulled from factory 9.3x 57 ammo and weighed 232grs. I got them cheap at a gun show along with a Lee .357 sizer die set to use in my single stage "O" press. I simply lubed them up with Lee case lube and one timed them up the chimney using my press. Very little force was required. They measure now almost .358" - around 3575 or slightly more (some spring back I suppose). They appear to be conventional cup and core. I guess more solidly built ones may offer more resistance to being squeezed smaller. I plan to try some others - hopefully some heavier 286s or heavier - if I can find some.
Update - Resizing 9.3/286 grain bullets for 35 calibre use
July12/08

It took some experimenting this weekend with different techniques and lubes but today I found a trouble free way to resize Hornady's 286 grain .366" bullets for use in 35 calibre rifles. The bullet on the left in the pic is a slight bit under .366" - as it left the factory. All the ones on the right are .358" now. After one pass through my .357 Lee sizer die they were a bit over .358" (there seems to be a little diameter spring back). A second time through the same sizer gives me slightly under .358 with uniform results, The bullets seem perfect on the outside - no obvious scratching or other defects it would seem.

I first tried Imperial sizing die wax to resize these bullets. But I had a stuck bullet that had to be drilled out of the sizer die. After discussions with a machinist friend who sizes 50BMG cases with Lee lube, I decided to go back and try the old tried and proven Lee case lube which he recommended I try again. Simply put it worked very well. I have similarly sized Norma 232grain 9.3 bullets in the past using Lee lube (see text above) and it worked well too. But I thought I would use something better with the Imperial wax - but it was not better at all.

I have an older Lee challenger press which isn't much in terms of brute strength. It get's most of its power nearing the bottom of the handle stroke. So I have to adjust the die up a 1/2" initially to get the bullet started on its way up the chimney. Then I back off the handle momentarily and screw down the die that 1/2" in order to complete the trip through the die. It's not a problem as it's not a critical measurement. I use the locking washer left a 1/2" high as it is then easy visually to duplicate quickly and repeatedly the required die up and down adjustment.

Now I have to range test these resized 286ers in a 35Whelen (3.280" COAL in cut away pic) or in my 350WSM (2.875" COAL in cut away pic) - hopefully tomorrow. I also will be sectioning one to see if it has the interlock ring. The box says nothing about that. I'm not sure if the core is bonded or not either. If it has the interlock then I doubt it. Update - sectioning done - it has the interlock.

As well as being a pretty well made bullet, these are economical too - at least compared to .358" Swift 280s and Woodleigh 310s which are more than twice the cost per bullet.

July14/08

I was hoping the "springback" was the core and jacket moving together as one but ??? I wonder if a "bonded core" design would be better for resizing as the core and jacket would be "bonded". Some authorities say so for sizing down more than .006". I think the interlock helps with this bullet as it shoots accurately enough it seems on initial testing.

When I was shooting over my Chrony I set up this target at 100 yds. It's OK accuracy for four different loads over 100fps apart and two different powders I think. No issues at all with pressure at this level too. Just good fun to shoot.